Cart structure for handling bee supers



R. LITTLEFIELD CART STRUCTURE FOR HANDLING BEE SUPERS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Mar. 20, 1923.

Filed Mar. 15, 1922 17206 22 202: I ygo Mar. 20, 1923.

R LITTLEFIELD CART STRUCTURE FOR HANDLING BEE SUPERS 2 shets-sheet 2 Filed Mal". 15, 1922 fivelzfor Patented Mar. 2%.), i923 ROY LITTLEFIELD, F EXIRA, IOWA.

CART STRUCTURE FOR HANDLING: BEE fiUPERS.

Application filed March 13, 1822. 1 Serial No. 543,290.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that ii, Roy liirrrnnriniin, va citizen of the United States, and a resident of Exira, in the county of Audubon, in the State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Cart Structure for .rl andling Bee Supers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cart structure, especially adapted for moving and conveying supers used in connection with the bee industry, the parts being of simple, durable and comparatively ineirpensive construction.

It is my object, more particularly, to provide means for -maintaining the super engaging elements at proper horizontal positlons, regardless of the movement of the remainingparts of the cart.

Still another object is to provide means for engaging the super-s adapted to be operated by the weight of the supers for causing the engaging elements to frictionally engage the super-s.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, ar rangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,

and illustrated in the accon'ipanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top, plan View of my'device, one of the positions being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a detailed, perspective view of a portion of the super engaging element.

Figure 4: is a detailed, sectional view showing the engaging elements in contact with the super; and

Figure 5 is a detailed, sectional view of one of the levers, showing the loose pivotal connection. 1

Figure 6 is a side elevation oi slightly modified form of my device, in which the super engaging element is adjustable for use on side hills.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view 01? a portion of the modified structure, taken on the line 77 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view 01"? a portion of the portion of the modified struc eurttaken on line 8-8 of Figure 7, the super engaging member being shown in one of its adjusted positions.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a frame. A pair of wheels 11 are secured to the frame on the short axles 12. The sides of the frame are slightly bowed outwardly, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The frame 10 is provided with a downwardly, extending portion 13 near its rear end and with a brace rod 14, for connecting the lower end of the portion 13 with the -forward end of the frame 10. The parts just described form a strong eiticient frame for my cart.

A rod 15 is journalled in the upper ends of the member 13. Mounted on the rod 15 and adjacent to the sides or the frame 10 is a pair of lovers 16. The levers 16 are provided with openings 17, slightly larger than the rod 15, whereby the levers may be swung on a horizontal axis or may be slightly swung on a vertical axis. The arrangement of the opening 1'? permits the leverslG to be either swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 or to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

The rear end of the lever 16 is connected together by means of a tie rod 18, havinga head 19 on each of its ends. The tie rod 18 is received in openings (not shown) formed in the rear ends of the levers 16. The heads 19 limit the amount of movement of the lever 16 in one direction.

Formed on the upper end of the portion 13 ot' the "frame 10 are notched sectors 20. Secured to each. of the levers l6 and slidably mounted in a pair of guide members 21are the wide-faced pawls 22. A spring 23 is extended between the guide elements 21 and normally tend to hold the pawl 22 in engagement with the notched sector 20. wire 24 is connected. to the pawl 22 and has its rear end fixed to a pivoted hand engaging member 25. The operation of the hand engaging member 5 will cause the pawl 22 to disengage the notched sector.

lie

It will thus be seen that the levers 16 may be moved on a horizontal axis to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings and locked in that position.

The notched sector may be so arranged as to permit the pawl 22 to slide from one notch to another, when the levers are moved in one direction, and to prevent movement, when it is attempted to move the levers in the opposite direction.

In order to hold the levers spaced apart, I provide a tie rod 26, which has its ends fixed to each of the levers 16. The tie rod 26 is spaced adjacent to the rod 15.

Pivotally fixed to the forward ends of the levers 16 by means of pintle'rods 28, are the guides 27.

Each of the guide members 27 are pro vided with grooves 29 in their sides. The purpose of th grooves 29 will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The lower ends of each of the guide members 27 are contracted and have pivotally fixed to their lower ends, the connecting rods 30. The connecting rods 30 are slightly curved near their rear ends and are pivotally fixed to the portion 13 of the frame 10.

From the construction of the parts just described, it will be seen that when the levers 16 are swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the guide members 27 and connecting rods 30 will be also moved, as clearly shown by the dotted lines.

Slidably mounted upon each of the guide members 27 is a super or box engaging element 31. Each of the box engaging elements 31 have their forward and rear ends bent, so as to form the flanges 32. The box engaging elements 31 are so arranged that the flanges 32 are facing each other.

Each of the box engaging elements 31 are provided with a slot 33. The box engaging elements 31 are mounted upon the guide members 27 and within the grooves 29.

From the construction of the parts just described, it will be seen that-the box engaging elements 31 may be moved up or down within the grooves 29. A yoke memher 3 1 extends around the guide members 27 and has its ends fixed tothe elements 31.

On each pintle rod 28 and between the forward ends of the levers 16 and the guide members 27, I provide a pulley wheel 35. A cable or other flexible element 36 has each of its ends fixed to the yoke members 34 and extended around th pulley wheels 35. A pair of pulley wheels are mounted in hearing members 37. A flexible element or cable 36 extends rearwardly from the pulley wheels 35 and around the pulley wheels mounted in the bearing members 37.

I have used the reference numeral'38 to indicate generally a super or box-like member, used in connection with the bee industry. Grooves 39 are ordinarily provided in the supers 38, whereby they may be engaged.

I provide lugs 10 on the engaging elements 31, which may be extended into the grooves 39, when the supers are moved from place to place.

I will now describe the practical operation of my device.

When it is desired to remove any of the supers, which may be filled with honey, and convey them from place to place or add an additional super on the beehive, I move the cart up adjacent to the supers to be handled.

The rear ends of the levers 16 are moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, which causes the forward ends of the levers to be moved towards the wheels 11 and away from each other.

The entire cart is then moved until the engaging elements 31 are along each side of the super to be handled. The pawls 22 are then released, and the levers 16 are swung to position where the front ends thereof will bring the engaging elements to position for engaging the supers.

As soon as the engaging elements are brought along the side of the supers or boxes 38, the moving of the rear ends of the levers 16 away from each other will cause the engaging elements to be moved until they engage the supers 38. As soon as the supers 38 are raised, so that they no longer rest one upon the other, the weight of the super will cause the engaging elements to be moved downwardly relative to the guides 27.

This causes the cable 36 to be pulled over the pulley wheels 35.

The greater the amount of downward movement on the engaging elements 31, the closer the forward ends of the levers 16 are brought together.

From theforegoing explanation, it will be seen that when a super filled with honey is received between the engaging elements, which causes the engaging elements to be moved downwardly, that at the same time, the forward ends f the levers 16 are being drawn towards each other wit-h a greater amount of force.

The arrangement of the forward end of the levers 16 and the guide members 27 and the connecting links 30, so that they form a substantial parallelogram, will permit me to swing the levers 16 on a horizontal axis and yet maintain the engaging elements in a. position parallel with the ground.

The purpose of this swinging movementis to permit the lifting of a super which is below the level of the normal position of the elements 31.

"Where a tier of supers is situated on a side hill, however, it is necessary to be able to adjust the super engaging elements so that they will remain in a horizontal posior: m,

supported at its ends by the legs 1h.

tion, since the tier 'will be vertical and the supers horizontal. In order to accomplish this, I vary the construction of my device slightly as shown in Figures T, and 8.

In place of the brace rods 30, I use bars ll which are pivoted to .the guide memhere 27 and which extend rearwardly to a point directly'below the tie rod 18.

A tie. rod 4L2 connects the bars 41 at their rear ends. a At this point where the bars ll. cross the legs 13, there is a cross rod 43,

7 Suitable slots ll preferably L shaped, as shown, are provided in the bars 41, and are de- A signed to receive the rod 43.

It will be seen that by moving the bars all forwardly the super engaging elements 31 will be swung away from the position parallel to the ground, and by choosing the correct slot is to receive the rod 43, the super engaging elements may be adjusted to a horizontal position. In Figure 8 the normal position parallel to the ground is shown in dotted lines. It will be noted that the modified construction will not interfere with the pivotal movement of, the levers 16, since the bars 41 will pivot on the rod 43 and remain substantially parallel with the levers 16. By extending the bars 41 rearwardly, it is possible for the operator to adjust the super engaging elements 31 without changing his position.

The engaging elements are slidably mounted in the guide members 27 and the guide members 27 will always be moved in a. vertical plane, regardless of the movement of the levers 16.

There is a sufiicient amount of play between this connecting rod 30 and the portion 13 of the frame 10, so as to permit the movement of the forward ends of the levers 16 towards or from each other.

It will be seen that my device is very simple and may be effectively used for adding additional supers to beehives, and for conveying supers filled with honey from place to place. In this connection, it may be mentioned that when one super is filled with honey, which has not yet been ripened, it is necessary to insert a new super, so that the bees may continue to collect honey, while the flowing season is continuing.

ll ith my device, the super filled with honey may be removed from the hive, and raised, so as to permit a new empty super to be placed in position. The super filled with the unmatured honey may then be placed again upon. the empty super. My device is especially adapted for use in connection with the bee industry.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of my device, without departing from the essential features and purposes of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by'rny claims, anymodifled forms of struct or use f mechanical equiwilents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim my invention: 7

1. In a device of class described, a wheel mounted frame, a pair oflevers capable of pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and swinging movement on avertical axis, box retaining elements secured to the forward ends of said levers, said box retaining elements being capable of sliding movement relative to said levers, a flexible element connecting the two box retaining elements together, the parts being so arranged that the weight of a box in the box retaining elements will cause them to move relative to the lever and cause the forward ends of the levers to be moved towards each other thus more firmly retaining the box.

2. In a device of class described, a wheel mounted frame, a pair of levers capable of pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and swinging movement on a vertical axis, means for locking said levers against pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and for retaining them in any of their positions, box retaining elementssecured to the forward ends of said levers, said box retaining elementsbeing capable of sliding movement relative to said levers, a flexible element connecting the two box retaining elements together, the parts being so arranged that the weight of a box in the box retaining elements will cause them to move relative to the lever and cause the forward ends of the levers to be moved towards each other thus more firmly retaining the box.

3. In a device of class described, a wheel mounted frame, a pair of levers capable of pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and swinging movement on a vertical axis, means for locking said levers against piv otal movement on a horizontal axis and for retaining them in any of their positions, box retaining elements slidably mounted on the forward ends of said levers, guides on said levers, a flexible element connected to said box retaining elements and extended through said guides, the parts being so arranged that sliding movement of the box retaining elements in one direction will cause the forward ends of said lever to be moved towards each other or vice versa.

4. In a device of class described, a wheel mounted frame, a pair of levers capable of pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and swinging movement on a vertical axis, means for locking said levers against pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and for retaining them in any of their positions, box retaining elements slidably mounted on said levers, said box retaining elements being capable of pivotal movement relative to said levers, means for retaining the box retaining elements in horizontal planes rebox retaining elements on said levers, means gardless of the pivotal movement of the for retaining the box retaining elements in levers on a horizontal axis. horizontal planes regardless of the pivotal 5. In a device of class described, a Wheel movement of the levers on a horizontal axis 5 mounted frame, a pair of levers capable of and means for causing the box retaining 15 pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and members to be moved towards each other swinging movement on a vertical axis, when retaining a box. means for locking said levers against piv- Des lWIoines, Iowa, February 7, 1922. otal movement on a horizontal axis and for Jo retaining them in any of their positions, ROY LITTLEFIELD. 

